ABSTRACT
83 A 6.5-year-old neutered male domestic longhair cat presents to your clinic severely obtunded, having been missing for approximately 18 hours. The cat was found in lateral recumbency and was minimally responsive. On physical examination, you detect an irregular heart rhythm. A very large, tense urinary bladder is palpable. An ECG trace from this cat is reproduced in Figure 83.1. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429401725/9d69b4ae-80d1-4f44-9dcb-659cda134065/content/fig83_1_C.tif"/>
i. What changes do you see in the ECG strip? What is the most likely cause of these changes?
ii. Other than urinary tract obstruction, what other disorders are associated with hyperkalemia in the cat?
iii. In some patients hyperkalemia is associated with bradycardia. How does hyperkalemia cause bradycardia?
iv. What emergency management steps would you take with this cat?136
